Iconic 1938 RAF Officer’s Mess Fusee Clock by FW Elliott Ltd

Iconic 1938 RAF Officer’s Mess Fusee Clock by FW Elliott Ltd from World War 2. The oak case with graduated pediment and base, simple outline oak stringing decoration and set upon four small square oak feet has a beautiful patina and is virtually unmarked. The eight inch silvered dial is in excellent original condition, enclosed behind a brass bezel with convex glass, has a fully working push, button release catch to the side. Black Roman numerals indicate the hours are complemented by blue steel spade style hands. The centre of the dial is further engraved with the RAF motif below the George VI Crown surrounded by a laurel wreath. The reverse has a simple square hinged door with lock and key which reveals the original eight-day, chain driven fusee movement and pendulum benefitting from a recent service by us. It also retains its locking screw to maintain the pendulum in static position whilst in transit. The back of the movement is engraved with the makers name, stating: “Made by Fw Elliott Ltd, England 1938 & Serial No: 5255” Fw Elliott & Sons have a history dating back to 1865 when Frank Westcombe Elliott’s Father, James Jones (Jj) Elliott was apprenticed to the London clockmaker, Bateman of St John Street, Smithfield, London. Initially starting as a maker of clock parts, his invention of a weight driven, tubular chime clock gained him a considerable personal following in the American market of the late Nineteenth Century. Jj Elliott died in 1904 with his son Fw Elliott taking control of the business. Throughout the first twenty years of the new Century, the business partnered with Grimshaw Baxter and later with Gillett and Johnston, it finally returned to sole family ownership in 1923 when Elliott’s sons, Leonard, Horace (and later in 1929) Ronald joined the business. In the same year as Ronald joined the company, the Elliotts exhibited at the British Industries Fair. At the start of World War Two, the company began to produce antique clocks for the Military as well as parts for aircraft to support the war effort and their factories were hit by bombs twice during this period. They thankfully survived unscathed and continued production throughout. Frank Elliott died in 1944 before the war ended but his sons successfully maintained the company. Horace Elliott later became the Chairman of the British Horological Institute and the company continued to produce fine clocks until the latter part of the Twentieth Century. Please study the photos as they confirm this is one of the best examples of an original clock of this type available today.